Interlocking switch and signal



(No Model.)

J. T. HAMBAY, INTERLOOKING SWITGH AND SIGNAL.

Patented Nov. 12, 1889.

JAOHM? INVENTOR,

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

JAMES T. IIAMBAY, OF \VILKINSBURG, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SWITCH AND SIGNAL COMPANY, OF S\VISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA.

INTERLOCKING SWITCH AND SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 415,168, dated November 12, 1889'.

Application filed June 12, 1889- Serial No. 31 L011. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES T. HAMBAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered a certain new and useful Improven1 ent in Interlocking Switches and Signals, of which improvement the following is a specification.

The invention described herein relates to apparatus whereby the movement of one or more switches connecting the main line with two or more routes automatically adj nsts the signal-operating connections in such manner that only the proper signal for the route to which the switch has been adjusted can be given.

The invention has for its object such a construction of the signal apparatus of the class hereinbefore referred to as will enable the operation of two or more signals by a single lever of the interlocking machine the signals being connected to their operating-lever by the switch mechanism during the shifting of the switch controlled by the signal.

In general terms the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of meehanical devices or elements, all as more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing a portion of a main line with sidings and the general arrangement of the switch and signal operating rods. Fig. 2 is a plan view, on an enlarged scale, of

the mechanism for operating the signals. Fig.

3 is a sectional elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line c 420, Fig. 2' and Fig. 5 is a detail view of the shiftingjlate forming a part of the switch-shifting connections.

In Fig. 1 I have shown a portion of a main track A, having sidings a, b, and c branching therefrom, the switches for the sidings being operated through suitable connections by rods 2, 3, and l extending from the signal-tower D. From the tower extends a signal-rod 5, which is connected at its outer end to a slide 6, mounted, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, on suitable ways in a frame 7, said frame being located at a suitable point between the tower and the signal-post B. At one end this slide is provided with a slot 8, with which lugs 9 on the signal-shifting rods 10 engage, as hereinafter described. As shown in Fig. 3, the rods 10 are provided on the side opposite the lugs i) with toes or projections 11, adapted, when the rods are moved laterally, so as to disengage the lugs 9 from the slot in the slide, to engage a slot in the cap-plate 12 of the frame, as shown in Fig. 3. The ends of the rods adjacent to the slide are supported, when the lugs are in engagement wit-l1 the slot 8, by a cross-bar 13 of the frame, and the opposite ends of the rods are supported by a guideframe 14, having the faces adjacent to the rods rounded or beveled, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to permit of the lateral movements of the signal-shifting rods, as hereinafter described. These signal-shifting rods 10 are connected by wires to suitable mechanism for operating the signals on the post B,as shown in Fig. 1.

The signal-shifting rods 10 are shifted from engagement with the slot 8 in the slide 6 and permitted to move back by means of dogs 15, having beveled edges, as shown in Fig. 4:. These dogs are adjustably secured to bars 16, arranged transversely of the signal-shifting rods and mounted in suitable guideways formed in the sides of the frame 7, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. To the ends of these bars are secured rods 17, extending to and across plates 18, forming parts of the switch-shifting rods 2, 3, and 4, as indicated in Fig. 1. In each of these plates 18 is formed an angularly-arranged slot 19, with which a pin 20 on each of the rods 17 engages, as shown in Fig.

5. The ends of the slots 19 are made straight or parallel with the line of movement of the plates 18, so as to prevent any accidental movements of the rods 17 and bars 16 after the plates have been shifted in the movements of the switches.

The dogs operating on the sigi'ial-shifting bars controlling the switch-signals are so adjnsted 011 the bars 16 that when the switches a, b, and c are in position for clear mainline the signal-shifting rods 10 leading to the signals controlling said switches are held so that the lugs 9 will be out of engagement with the slot 8 in slide 6, and the projections 11 will be in engagement with the slot in the capplate 12; but the dogs operating on the signal-shifting bar of the main-line signal are so adjusted on the bars 16 as to permit said bar to move laterally, its lug engaging the slot in the slide 6, when the switches are in normal position for clear main line.

If it be desired to run a train into one of the sidings, as a, its switch is shifted, (the main-1i ne signal having been set to danger,) thereby shifting the bar 16 and through the medium of the dogs thereon moving the signal-shifting bars" 10, 10, and 10 out of engagement with the slot 8 of the slide and into engagement with the slot in the cap-plate, thus locking the signals of themain line and switches b and c at danger, while the dog on the bar 16, pertaining to the signal-shifting bar 10, is moved to one side of said bar, thus permitting it to engage with the slot 8 in the slide 6, which is then shifted by the signalrod and the lever in the tower. It Will be observed that after the slide 6 has been shifted either wholly or in part to the right in Fig. 3 the signal-shifting rod cannot be moved out of engagement with the slide, the projection 11 thereon coming in contact with the cap-plate, andhence, as it is necessary to shift said rod if any other switch be shifted, or if the switch a be returned to clear main line, the signal-shifting bars, the dogs for controlling them, and the shifting-plates form an interlocking apparatus, operating on the same general principles as the interlocking mechanism usually applied to the leversin the signal-towers.

Another advantage incident to the employment of the sliding bars and dogs lies in the possibility of a compact arrangement of the apparatus.

I claim herein as my invention- 1. The combination of one or more switches, signals controlling said switches and the main line, mechanism for shifting said switches, a

slide, signal-shifting rods laterally movable into and out of engagement with the slide, and

dogs provided with lifting and supporting faces and movable transversely of the signalshifting rods and operated by the switch-shiftrods laterally, and a lock for holding the rods in engagement wit-h the slide, and thereby by the medium of said shifting-rods looking all opposing switches and signals, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of one or more switches, signals controlling said switches and the main line, mechanism for shifting said switches, a slide, signal-shifting rods laterally movable into and out of engagement with the slide,

longitudinally-movable bars operated by the switch-shifting mechanism, and dogs provided with lifting and supporting faces and attached to said bars for effecting the engage ment or disengagement of the signal-shifting rods with or from the slide by a lateral movement of the rods, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of one or more switches, signals controlling said switches and the main line, mechanism for shifting said switches, a slide, signal-shifting rods laterally movable into and out of engagement with the slide, longitudinally-movable bars, an angularlying mechanism for moving the signal-shifting slotted slide-plate for shifting said bars, dogs provided with lifting and supporting faces and attached to said bars for effecting the engagement or disengagement of the signalshifting rods with or from the slide by a lateral movementof the rods, and stop for holding the rods in engagement with the slide, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

. JAMES T. HAMBAY.

Witnesses:

R. H. WHIrrLEsEY, DARWIN S. VVOLCOTT. 

